OH HAPPY DAY!

Cohen, you are one year old today sweet one!

On this morning at 6:31 am a year ago, Mama prayed. I thanked God for you and for your life. I have no idea what Daddy and I did to merit being parents to such a blessing. I honestly had no clue what was in store for us as we waited in the hospital room on April 24, 2010. What a time I had getting you here, but you were worth every second of that physical trial. I'm having a hard time even writing this because I have so much I want to say! I think this would be a good time for me to do Mama's favorite thing... make a list! 

Here are just a few of my favorite things about you: 
- You have never met a stranger. We literally make friends everywhere we go! You are as people-oriented a child as Mama could have ever hoped for and that suits our lifestyle just fine! 

- You have about the best smile I have ever seen. I'm probably a little bit biased... but just a little. I have seen you smile at complete strangers and their faces instantly light up- it is so sweet to see people respond to you in that way. 

- You laugh a lot!! You started laughing VERY early and haven't slowed down since. This is genetic- you get it from both sides, and though it will probably get you in trouble in class one day, I consider it a blessing.

- You were very active in Mama's tummy and that hasn't changed one bit. Though sometimes I think it would be easier if you didn't hit physical milestones a little early, I'm very thankful that you keep me on my toes. Makes life fun, even if every where we go people comment that I "certainly have my hands full"! 

- You seem very determined. This will prove to be interesting as Daddy and I are attempting to guide and discipline you, but I think this is a wonderful trait to have!

- For the most part, I would say you have been an amazing child to have stick to a routine, and you are a really good sleeper! We are abundantly thankful for both of these things! 

- You love to eat and to try new foods! Some of the best laughs Daddy and I have had, have been feeding you something new for the first time and watching your little face in response. 

- You LOVE to read! Some of the sweetest times I have had with you have been cuddled up in the rocking chair  reading stories to you (sometimes over and over!). Some of your favorites are : Panda Bear Panda Bear, The Belly Button Book, Quack, Jesus Loves Me Book, Elmo,  and ANY touch and feel book that you can get your hands on. There are so many more but those top the charts with you. 

Now for some milestones:
- You now have at least 10 teeth! 
- You weigh about 25 pounds.
- You are walking and sometimes running now! (Gulp) 
- You are eating 90% "grown up" food and only 10% of the Gerber stuff. 
- You only take a bottle at night and use your sippee the rest of the time. 
- You say Mama and Dada all the time- much to our delight! You can also say Oscar now but it sounds more like "Odder"....adorable!

-You can now reach the door knobs and it is only a matter of time before you figure out how to open them!
I could think of about 100 more things, but you are ready for me to come and play! I'll post some pictures of your first birthday party soon...mommy is a little tired from such a busy weekend!

We love you more than all the stars, big guy!!!

Am I allowed to have a million favorites??

I have SO many things that I love about this age (Cohen's age, not mine... I've got a death grip on my 20's). One of my absolute favorites has to be my little guy's "vocabulary". No- he is still not really "talking"...not in my language anyway- but he says things allllll day long and is VERY passionate about some of them. One of these days I am really going to get my act together and video tape him in the midst of one of his speeches. Too priceless for words. 

Probably my favorite thing that he does right now is "uh-oh", which actually sounds a lot more like "uuuuuh-uuuuuuh". He is SO proud of himself every time he says it- its like I can hear him thinking "Mommy says that too... I got it just right!". Luckily, every uuuh-uuuh does not accompany an actual accident of some sort- but I'm sure that is soon to be the pattern. 

He is hitting his stride in terms of walking, and seems to do lots of things with much more ease and coordination. He loves to drag items with him all over the house. Some of these include his little lamb, books (his favorite), his sippee sup (finally) and my cell phone. 

His newest game that he plays with the Hubs is hide and seek. Cutie loves to run in the kitchen and wait for Tyler to peek his head around the corner to look for him. And when he spots his daddy he gets so excited and makes the funniest sounds!  This is a game that I think I will leave him to play with Tyler:) 

I'm trying to give him some options now- I think that is such a wonderful thing to do so that as they start to form opinions and grow they don't feel like they are being told what to do alllll the time. I have to really remind myself though, and fight everything in me that "just wants to get it done, already". But I think its important and I try to remind myself at the start of every day that he is a human with the beginnings of likes and dislikes and I want him to have some chances to makes decisions. 

Speaking of likes and dislikes- all of a sudden he is giving us VERY clear yes and no's. When I ask him a question or if he wants something, if he doesn't want it, he cocks his little head to the side abruptly and wont look at us. If he does want it, or agrees with us he will tilt his head back and grin from ear to ear and show his teeth-it' s hilarious!

I continue to have moments where I think my heart is just going to pop out of my chest because I love him so much. He doesn't even have to be doing anything! It still amazes me! 

Our little family has gone through quite a bit over the course of his lifetime (and maybe even in the months before) and that continues to be the case, but its so nice that I can lay my head down at night and know without a shadow of a doubt that I am where I am supposed to be and our little family looks just like God wants it to look (for now). The decision to continue work after Cohen was born is something that I feel like I run into in some way, shape, or form a whole lot, (even though staying home was really not an option even when I tried my best to work that over on Tyler many many times) and while things haven't been easy, I truly know that we've made the best decision for our family so far. That is such a blessing. Maybe part of that is Peace that surpasses understanding?

Anyway, Cohen- you will officially be 12 months in  twelve days and it blows my mind that things have gone as quickly as they have. You are a complete handful, but also a complete joy. Even when I have moments  when you are screaming and I feel like telling you in my exhausted frustration, to "put a cork in it, please" (ouch mommy, very ouch) I still wouldn't trade a moment. I look forward to every little bitty thing you do every day- maybe that makes me one of those sappy Mama's- but I'll be sappy over you any day, kid. 

Love you more than all the stars!

Who is this big boy??!!!

He is such a ham!!

Nothin' holds his interest better than Elmo on the tube! This is a phase that Tyler has waited for since we found out we were having a boy...he is glad to finally has HIS little buddy:)

Granny and Papaw made it down for a visit on Sunday;) Of course,  Cohen only wanted to be held by his Grammy!